This is going to be a long one folks. We traveled 3750 miles. Mom may have taken 3750 pictures.
We hit the road on August 4th. The first night we camped near the Oregon/Idaho border and the second night we stayed near the Idaho/Wyoming border. On the third day we drove through the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area on the border of Wyoming and Utah.
We were on our way to see
dinosaurs! We went to Dinosaur National Monument. There are real fossils still in the rock to see. This picture does not do its amazingness justice!
We camped on the Green River and did some hiking while at the Monument.
There were a lot of petroglyphs to see.
Then we headed to Grand Mesa, Colorado for some mountain biking and then on to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We stayed at a campground that had restored narrow gauge trains.
Next up, the cabin!
Ryan, Nora, Aunt Michelle, and Uncle Chris met us there. I took everyone on a hike to the top of Pennsylvania Mountain the first day. Why not? Sea level to 13, 006 ft? No problem.
Almost there.
Here Ryan and I are at the summit!
Ryan and I built cool forts.
Nora and I made my birthday cake. Chocolate cake with blueberry frosting (my idea).
Uncle Chris made me work for my presents with a treasure hunt.
No problem, because I am six.
We also hiked to Limber Grove. Some of the trees there are around 1000 years old.
We also did some mountain biking in Frisco and Fairplay and a few more hikes around the cabin before we left.
We saw lots of beaver dams.
It wasn’t all fun and games. We did lots of work too, like sanding the deck.
But doesn’t it look great?
Next up, off to Vernal, Ut for some mountain biking.
We rode
AND
We were not done yet. Next stop? Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon for a backpacking trip.
Here we go.
The map said 7 miles. My watch said we’ve been going 8. What’s up?
First night’s campsite.
Up over Ivan Carper pass on the second day. Come on Bigs!
I am the Lorax and I speak for the trees.
The third day was an easy hike out along the Lostine River.
Now we are home and stuck inside due to smoky air. So we are in the kitchen. I made banana cream pie,
banana oat pancakes,
pecan honey granola,
and honey oat bread.
I also helped The Bigs make Farmer’s Market Fried Rice
and kimichi noodles.
What could be better then spending your birthday and summer vacation in a spectacular place(s) with people that love you! Just love the pictures. Thanks. Jim
What an amazingly wonderful trip!! And how fantastic to have your cousins, aunt and uncle with you and to spend some time at The cabin. I loved the look of the Farmer’s Market fried rice… it must have been very yummy! Thanks for all the great photos.
Love, Nana
Great pictures. What a memorable trip that had to be.
I’m tired. All those hikes snd bike rides! You had a fantastic trip and wonderful birthday with aunt shake uncle Chris and Ryan and Nora bean. I loved the cake but blueberry icing. Really??? The dinosaur park looked like fun but I liked the campground with restored trains more. Maybe next summer you can come here and beach it. You keep cooking all that wonderful food and Nan will put you to work. Love you all
Emmett, so glad you got to spend some time with your cousins! And what amazing adventures you had! And I think the Blueberry Cake looks very yummy!
What a great summer vacation you all had and now it’s time for school and work.